Three politicians, dozens of volunteers, and thousands of small pink flags made a public stand against sex-selective abortion over the weekend.

Cathay Wagantall, MP for Yorkton-Melville in Saskatchewan, introduced a private members’ bill in February that would prohibit abortions being performed on the basis of the sex of the unborn child, saying they disproportionately target females and perpetuate discrimination based on sex.

Wagantall visited Langley and Chilliwack Sept. 12 to join locals passionate about the issue at three outdoor displays.

“The pink flags are a visual and stark reminder that our country has a long way to go in defending the rights of women and girls, as well as equality between the sexes,” she said.

Joining Wagantall were MPs Tamara Jensen of Cloverdale-Langley City and Tako Van Popta of Langley-Aldergrove.

“It was a privilege to join her in shining a light on this misogynistic practice,” said Jensen in a post on social media. “I believe politicians of all political stripes should be willing to stand up for women and girls and oppose this practice!”

The three events were hosted outside three Reformed churches and were organized by We Need a Law, an organization that supports legislation to restrict abortion.

We Need a Law notes that sex-selection is already illegal in the process of in-vitro fertilization, and hopes abortion laws in this country can come in line with existing reproduction laws.

It also advocates for legislation that would bring Canada’s abortion restrictions in line with other democratic countries.

It’s not the first time a bill that would ban abortion on the basis of sex has entered the political arena.

In 2012, former Langley MP Mark Warawa put forward a motion against “sex-selective pregnancy termination.” Then, in 2016, Wagantall introduced a private member’s bill called the “Protection of Pregnant Women and Their Preborn Children Act” that was defeated in the House of Commons.

Now, her second attempt at protecting unborn children from discrimination on the basis of sex is on the table.

Or, it would be, if Parliament was in session. Wagantall said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s decision to suspend parliamentary duties typically means government bills die before they are passed, but private members’ bills do not suffer the same fate.

In a press release, her office said the delay “merely extends a five-month hiatus on private members’ business.” Only in the event of an election would all bills, including Wagantall’s, be lost.

“Canadians of nearly all beliefs are united on this issue, with 84 per cent stating that sex-selective abortion should be illegal,” she said.

“This is reasonable common ground that every Member of Parliament must thoughtfully consider.”


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